POWER HOUSE NOW A MORGUE The Rise and fall of Ripley Church

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1 POWER HOUSE NOW A MORGUE The Rise and fall of Ripley Church Times-Herald August 20, 1977 By Tony Allison NO COMMENTARY on the changing pattern of rural life could be more eloquent than the silent testimony of the derelict church buildings dotted around local villages. And, of these, few could evoke more - nostalgic memories than the former Congregational church which dominates the village of Ripley. Congregationalism was introduced into Ripley in the 17th century it is thought by the Rev. J. Warner, a vicar of Christchurch who was "ejected" for his nonconformity and who died near Sopley in Four years after his death a licence was obtained for a "conventicle" to be held in the house of Widow Saunders of Sopley who had Ripley connections. But the first attempt to organise worship in Ripley dates only from 1797, when the Rev. W. Hopkins, Congregational pastor at Christchurch, and the Rev. Alfred Bishop, Independent minister at Ringwood, combined to found a mission in the village, with services held in the homes of members. VENUE MOVED For many years Town End was the recognised meeting-house; but after the Rev. Daniel Gunn, of Christchurch, was given oversight of Ripley in 1886 the venue was transferred to the home of a Mr. Benjamin Tuck, who subsequently gave part of his garden as a site for a permanent church. Plans for a suitable building were immediately prepared, and a subscription fund was opened. When 400 had been raised by subscriptions and donations, supplemented by gifts of materials, building by voluntary labour was started. Estimating, apparently, was good, for the church looking to outward appearance like a large house was completed at a total cost of 381 4s. 4d. It was opened in 1822, the congregation being so big at the opening service that all the seats had to be removed to provide sufficient standing space. Having become self-supporting, Ripley was separated from Christchurch in 1929, and flourished to such good purpose over the years that it reached a stage where it was "bursting at the scams". Eventually, Mr. John Kemp-Welch, of Sopley Park, came to the rescue, extending and rebuilding the church in its present form. Seating about 400, the new church was opened in 1880 and drawing worshippers from a radius which embraced Christchurch, Shirley and Bransgore it continued to be regularly wellfilled, with a choir of 20 voices in the gallery to lead the singing. At the centenary celebrations in 1929 the church was packed to the doors.

2 RESIDENT By that time a schoolroom, a manse and stables had been added to the property the manse being occupied by the Rev. R. Howarth and his family. He had been resident minister since 1901 and he naturally took a leading part in the centenary services at which Mr. F. A. Lane, of Christchurch, presided. The Rev. H. T. Maddeford, of Bournemouth, preached and speakers included the Rev. H. Parnaby (Portsmouth), the Rev. I. H. Bailey (Beaminster) and the Rev. H. P. James, secretary of the Hampshire Congregational Union. In the ensuing years the church's two most active organisations were the Sunday School and the Women's Meeting, which later became the Women's Guild. The Christchurch Times records show that at the 1935 Sunday School anniversary 20 pupils received prizes, and nearly two decades later in l958 there were still 20 children on the register. The Sunday School, in that year, was being run by Miss Joan Waterman, assisted by Mrs. M. F. Hiscock and Miss Angela Wiseman. The Women's Guild formed shortly before the second world war with Mrs. Kitley as its first president, was also operative, having as its president Mrs. C. Slater, with Mrs. H. Toop as secretary and Mrs. K. Saunders treasurer. But writing was by that time on the wall. The Rev. R. Howarth had died in 1939 and the wheel turning full circle, Ripley had become once again one of a group of churches connected with Christchurch Congregational church others including Burton Green, Waterditch and Cranemoor. SUPERINTENDENT Mr. C. Salter, of Christchurch, was appointed superintendent at Ripley and, assisted by his wife, he served the church faithfully until it was closed some 10 years ago. The manse had become a private residence and the heart had gone out of the community. As the younger people of the village grew up they drifted away, while the older ones moved or died. Sunday sport and entertainment reared their heads, and as those living at a distance became more affluent and more mobile, the new cars which should have made it easier for them to come to the church bore them instead away from it, in pursuit of pleasure. Late in the 'sixties a last-ditch bid was made to recapture the old glory. The roof of the church was restored at the then substantial cost of 300, and a house-tohouse canvass of the area was undertaken to encourage former members and newcomers to join in the fellowship. But apart from a few flickers of interest these efforts were of no avail and the church which had been a spiritual powerhouse for a wide area for well over a century had to close its doors. A valuable link with the golden days and declining years of Ripley is provided by Mr. and Mrs. E. Barrow, of Ringwood Road, Avon, who had family connections with the church for several generations. MEMORIES Mrs. Barrow's grand-father was a life-long member, and the couple still have the 'cello which he played at the services before an organ was installed. The organ, in its earlier days, was played by Mrs. Harrow's sister, who later became Mrs. Elizabeth Wiseman, and was the mother of the Miss Joan Waterman, who eventually became Sunday School superintendent. And she was succeeded at the console by Mrs. Barrow herself, who served as organist for over half a century. Mrs. Barrow's elder brother, Mr. Fred Legg, now 96, was also a regular member.

3 He can recall the days when people came to service in donkey-carts and, like his sister, remembers the lanes around Ripley being full of chapel-goers who thought nothing of walking or cycling several miles to join in the worship. Mr. Barrow shares many of their memories, but those most vivid in his mind are of the last days at Ripley, when each Sunday he used to collect the entire congregation a total of four in his car, and take them to and from church. OVERSHADOWED With the closure of Ripley, the organ was moved to the Congregational church of Burley, where it is still giving good service: and the Barrows transferred to the Congregational (now United Reformed) church at Ringwood, which they attend regularly. They retain their connection with organisations attached to churches nearer home, however, and are much in demand as entertainers. It seems a far cry from the time when everything in the Ripley area stopped for church on Sunday. Nowadays the only services which interrupt the work-and-play routine of the Sabbath are those which come via television or radio. Capable and worthy of restoration, but over-shadowed by a planning consent for residential development. the red-brick church still stands firm. Many of its former members lie at rest in the little burial-ground adjoining, but its mouldering walls echo the praise they offered in the long ago, and its tiny steeple, like a shaky finger, points heavenward. RIPLEY. Copies of this paper may be obtained of Mrs. John Tutchell. RE-OPENING OF RIPLEY CHAPEL.-On Sunday last in connection with this re-opening, the Rev. R. McAll preached twice to good congregations, and on the following afternoon, a large number of persons attended a tea and public meeting. The chapel had been entirely renovated and changed in appearance at a cost of something like 950, the whole of which has been provided by a wealthy friend of the cause. The plans were prepared by Mr. T. Stevens, of Christchurch and Bournemouth, and the building contract was undertaken and successfully carried out by Mr. McWilliam of the latter place. The alterations include the conversion of the old place of worship into a modern looking structure in the Gothic style, the side galleries being removed, as also the high-backed pews which formerly existed, which have been substituted by some comfortable benches. The front wall has been brought out to the road, and a deep gallery has been erected over the entrance lobby; the side lights are exceedingly lofty, and the whole building has a light and airy appearance. The pulpit has been substituted by a spacious platform, entrance to which is obtained from the staircase leading to a large assembly room, by which the class rooms have been surmounted. These latter occupy the site of the old schoolroom and are three in number with a minister's vestry. The heating is provided by a hot air apparatus. During these extensive alterations, the congregation has met on Sundays at the British schoolroom at Sopley. As we have said, sermons on Sunday were preached by the Rev. R. McAll, of Bocking [Essex], and at the public meeting on Monday, the chair being taken by James Kemp-Welch, Esq., the Mayor of Christchurch, who, in his opening remarks, read an affectionate letter from the Rev. F. Baron, a former minister, and gave some statistics respecting the minister and other matters connected with the chapel, which had been supplied him by the same gentleman. As regarded his own remarks he said he addressed them with mingled feelings of sadness and congratulation, and was delighted to tell them that the place was opened free of debt. The Rev. W. Jackson, of Bournemouth, spoke next, and was followed by the Rev. G. Burgess, Mr. McWilliam, Mr. Moore, all of Bournemouth, Mr. H. W. Jenkins, of Christchurch, and the Rev. S. Williams, of Cripplestyle, the burden of whose addresses was that of congratulation, upon the

4 prosperous state in which things appeared to be at Ripley. The following statement supplied by Mr. Baron, the late minister and read by Mr. KempWelch on Monday evening will doubtless prove interesting: "Members admitted into the church from 1829 to July Baptised since 1829 to Buried in the graveyard from 1829 to The Ministers during the same period, were : Rev. Charles Thurman, June 1830 to Rev. W. Hopkins, September 24th 1832 to Rev. J. Locke, June 25th 1835 to Rev. A, Newth, August 27th 1838 to Rev. R. Davies, March 1843 to Rev. R. Davy. September 1847 to Rev. F. Baron, July 1852 to Rev. F. W. Turner, 1876 During the ministry of the Rev. F. Baron, which commenced in 1852, and which ended in 1876, 184 were received into the church; 527 baptised; and 167 buried." The above photograph courtesy of Hampshire Arts &Museum Service.

5 Demolition of old church RIPLEY'S 150-year-old Congregational Church which once echoed to the sound of local people at worship is to be pulled down, more than a decade after it closed. The building itself, which cost less than 400 to build with the help of local voluntary labour, was opened in 1822 to a congregation so large that there was standing room only at the first service. The one and only resident minister the church enjoyed, the Rev Robert Howarth, originated from Rochdale and came to Ripley in He spent 38 years working in the tiny hamlet on the Hampshire and Dorset border. The church was one of a series linked to Christchurch Congregational Church for much of its active life and came under the jurisdiction of the minister in the town, Mr. Charlie Salter, who was appointed superintendent at Ripley, and his wife, the church treasurer, took over the running of the church and were responsible to the Christchurch minister. The Rev. H. Carter-Lloyd, now retired and living in Bournemouth, was the last minister to have the Ripley church under his wing. ''The smallness of the community with its scattered farms and no hope of development in the area had a hand in the church closing. It was lack of support," said Mr. Carter-Lloyd on hearing about the chapel's demolition. One of the best known personalities connected with the church was the late Mrs. Florrie Barrow, who was the organist for many years. She lived at Avon and, after the church's closure, became one of the musicians at Trinity Church, Ringwood. The Barrow family were connected with the church for generations. I am grateful to Cynthia Hiscock and Gwen Barrow. The pictures they supplied encouraged me to create this article.